A young woman from Goroka has made a bold move to open a market gap in reselling oyster mushrooms grown in Jun’cao grass in the city to assist her local people in the Eastern Highlands Province. Mushroom growing in Papua New Guinea began in 2019 when Agricultural specialists from East China’s Fujian province arrived in Goroka to administer growing rice and mushroom with Jun’cao grass and this is why Eastern Highlands Province have a growing number of Mushroom farmers. Georgina Karani, is a 28-year old recent graduate from the Institute of Business Studies University with a Bachelor in Economics. Karani who started her business to create a larger market scale for the local mushroom farmers in Goroka by purchasing their produce for reselling, said that it has been a tough journey for her. “The market is quite tough because a majority of people in PNG don’t really know how to prepare or eat mushrooms, but I’m getting there.” “I think more citizens need to be educated about the health benefits that come with consuming mushrooms.” Karani told PNG HAUSBUNG that people were reluctant when it came to purchasing mushrooms partly because they did not know how to cook it as well as the lack or little to no knowledge about the benefits of mushroom consumption in PNG. “I’m trying to help local growers sell their produce in the city." "There are a lot of mushroom farmers in Goroka with nowhere to sell their produce and people don’t realize that you can benefit financially and healthily.” According to Google research, oyster mushrooms are a good source of fiber, protein and a variety of vitamins and minerals and it can boost Vitamin D levels, help maintain blood pressure, boosts bone mineral density and may also prevent anemia as well. [caption id="attachment_46213" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Jun'Cao Mushrooms For Sale[/caption] She added that since she started her small business in August, she has managed to do four sales already and is currently on her fifth sale with her client base only involving her family and friends as well as patients who have recognized the health benefits of including mushrooms in their diet. Karani stated that she was working on building her network of clients especially here in the city to expand and grow her business to further support her local people. “I’m still looking for network to expand this small business to get clients from outside that’s why I started putting up flyers on social media.” Georgina further said that in June, she attended the Jun’cao project in China sponsored by the Chinese Government that focused on educating participants on the breeding and farming of mushrooms as well as knowing the health benefits that came with including mushrooms in human diets. She also said that she aims to get more customers through more advertising and awareness to expose her business despite the costly expenses. “Despite dealing with the high freight costs, I have managed to make profitable sales and I am currently working on setting up a mushroom reselling base here in Port Moresby as well.” Meanwhile Karani is selling the packed mushrooms for single purchase at K25 and K65/kilo for retailers who wish to purchase in bulk. Interested buyers can contact her on 7258 4508 to place an order and help a young woman help her people.